Hari Hara Rama - Mohana - Bhadrachala Ramadas - Dr M Balamuralikrishna - Video 3 of 4

Celebrating Sri Rāmanavami with Muralīgānam

Sri Rāmanavami and music are so interconnected that the mere mention of one reminds of the other. Much like the two ends of a stick. Pick one end and the other end comes along as well. The celebration of Sri Rāmanavami is not complete without the singing of songs celebrating the glory of the king of yore, a descendant of the solar dynasty and a beacon of virtue. The songs can be folk songs or light music or classical, music being the common thread among them. Likewise, at the mere mention of a music concert or a programme one cannot but help to recall some aspect of Sri Rāmanavami, especially of a concert or a programme held at a particular venue of the celebration of a particular year.

This acquired synonymity has an interesting history behind. Inspired by Bhadrāchala Rāmadās, for whom Sri Rāmanavami was an occasion to celebrate, Saint Tyāgarāja institutionalised the practice of rendering compositions as an offering to his chosen deity Sri Rāma on the day of Sri Rāmanavami, through preparations by him and his disciples that would often begin a month or two earlier. Being a devotee of Sri Rāma and singer himself, this practice is the precursor to the Sri Rāmanavami music concerts that we are quite used to now.

Muraligānam, the music of Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (BMK), has been a distinct channel to the music lovers to enjoy compositions on Sri Rāma, particularly for the sheer elegance of rendition combining melody, music, diction, and the spirit of the celebration of Sri Rāmanavami.

In this offering, a 4 video pack, are a set of compositions, rendered by BMK on various occasions—a composition of Saint Tyāgarāja rendered at the samādhi of the saint, a composition of Bhadrāchala Rāmādas at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, a composition of Prayāg Rangadās rendered in a private setting, and yet another composition of Prayāg Rangadās rendered at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London.

As a tribute to Saint Tyāgarāja for his effort in this regard the first offering is his composition in this video pack, appropriately rendered at the samādhi of the saint. The third is as a tribute to Bhadrāchala Rāmadās who was the inspiration to Saint Tyagaraja. The second and the fourth are as a tribute to Prayāg Rangadās for whom Bhadrāchala Rāmadās and Saint Tyāgarāja were an inspiration.

All these compositions on Sri Rāma and are being offered to Sri Rāma on the occasion of Sri Rāmanavami today. Come, partake the fragrance of the divine flowers, and enjoy.

My sincere thanks to Smt. Mahathi Srinivas and Sri. T K Ramkumar in bringing out this album.